Does Microsoft Hate the PC... Gamer?

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Author: Rayman Tsang
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Some folks think that Microsoft is actually setting up the death knell of PC gaming. We don't necessarily agree, but we've found plenty of evidence that the company's made some big mistakes lately.

Looks good, but not "New OS Good"

Ever since Microsoft's entrance into console gaming back in late 2001, Microsoft has put a lot of time, effort, and focus into the Xbox division and its current console, the Xbox 360. The company's been busy providing content for the Live users and obtaining great titles for it's 360 owners. What about the company's original core audience--the PC gamers?

At E3's 2006, Microsoft announced Games for Windows (GFW) campaign and Games for Windows Live (GFWL) slated to be released with Windows' anticipated operating system Vista. PC gamers had something to look forward to. Now fast forward to where we are now, and it's obvious that Microsoft has screwed up. Daily Game published a scathing summary of the service so far called "Microsoft Fails PC Gamers", and when you consider the facts so far, it's tough to argue.

The first game to run with Vista was set to be Halo 2, but it was delayed constantly along with Vista. It was officially was set for May 8, it was then pushed back again to May 29th due to a nudity issue/glitch in the game. Despite the fact that the game has been held over for the vaunted Vista OS, it makes no use of Directx 10, and little to no graphical improvement on the game after a two and a half year wait. It would seem logical that Halo 2 can run on XP since it runs perfectly fine on a 6 year old system. Why alienate the a whole crowd of gamers who still haven't made the transition over to Vista?

The other feather in the GFW cap was the highly anticipated game Shadowrun. It's the first game to use GFWL cross-platforming with PC and 360 users. While most of the pre-release hype of Shadowrun has remained quiet on the topic, this is the first of many games that has to address the dreaded "Mouse and Keyboard vs. Controller" debate. In order to offset the much better precision of PC control, its players are handicapped against it's 360 counterpart. 360 users have aim assist while PC users are handicapped by a distorted blur or "blown out" as FASA calls it, on quick turns and PC users aim purely on skill without the assisted aim function.

So far Microsoft has giving the sharp end of the stick to its PC gamers as they have catered Xbox owners with better games, Live functionality, and control tweaks against PC users. But there is always another side of the story. Vista has only been around for about six months, so the developers haven't been able to fully embrace Vista and DX10 as they finish work on games for XP and DX9. With the graphical powerhouse Crysis, the true MMOFPS Hellgate: London, and the promising RTS World in Conflict coming soon under the Games for Windows program, PC gaming should weather this unfortunate first storm.

Hey, thanks: Daily Game

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